China, ROK hold high-level strategic dialogue

The foreign ministries of China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held their fifth high-level strategic dialogue in Beijing on Monday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and ROK First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ahn Ho-young attended the talks.

Zhang said China-ROK relations have developed in an all-round manner and yielded fruitful results since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1992.

Looking to the future, Zhang called on the two countries to step up strategic communications, deepen pragmatic cooperation, increase multilateral consultation and coordination, properly settle sensitive issues and seek new progress in cooperative partnerships.

Ahn echoed Zhang's call, saying the ROK government placed great value in developing ties with China.

No matter who wins the presidential election in the near future, the new ROK government will continue to value its ties with China and make efforts to develop bilateral ties, Ahn vowed.

The two senior officials also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

The high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of China and ROK started in 2008 in Beijing in accordance with agreement among leaders of the two countries. Since then, Beijing and Seoul have taken turns in hosting the annual dialogue.